Lao Airlines
Template:Short description Template:Infobox airline
Lao Airlines State Enterprise<ref name=Pressrel4>"Press Release #4 Template:Webarchive." (Archive) Lao Airlines. 18 October 2013. Retrieved on 20 October 2013.</ref> (Template:Langx) is the flag carrier of Laos, headquartered in Vientiane. It operates domestic and international services to countries such as Cambodia, China, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Its main operating base is Wattay International Airport in Vientiane.<ref name="FI">Template:Cite news</ref> It is owned by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.<ref name=Pressrel4/>
History
In September 1976, the company was formed from the merger of two existing airlines, Royal Air Lao and Lao Air Lines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The company became Lao Aviation in 1979.Template:Cn It operated a fleet of western aircraft and helicopters until re-equiping with Soviet and Chinese aircraft in the 1980s.
The airline began upgrading to ATR turboprop aircraft in the mid-1990s, and subsequently to the Airbus A320.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The A320s are the first jet aircraft to be purchased by Lao Airlines and feature a two-class layout seating 126 passengers in the main cabin and 16 in Business Class, and they are powered by CFM International CFM56 engines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In May 2025, Lao Airlines became the second airline outside China (after TransNusa of Indonesia) to commence commercial flights with the Comac C909.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Destinations
Template:As of, Lao Airlines flies (or has flown) to the following destinations:<ref>Lao Airlines Route Map Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Codeshare agreements
Lao Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Bangkok Airways
- VietJet Air<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Interline agreements
Lao Airlines has interline agreements with the following airlines:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Fleet
Template:As of, Lao Airlines operates the following aircraft:<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A320-200 | 4 | — | 16 | 126 | 142 | |
| 8 | 150 | 158 | ||||
| ATR 72-500 | 4 | — | — | 70 | 70 | |
| ATR 72-600 | 3 | — | — | 70 | 70 | |
| Comac C909 | 2 | — | — | 90 | 90 | |
| 4 | 85 | 89 | ||||
| Total | 13 | — | ||||
Former fleet
| Aircraft | Fleet | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 1 | 2003 | 2005 | Leased |
| ATR 42-300 | 1 | 1994 | 1996 | Leased |
| ATR 72-200 | 2 | 1996 | 2011 | Leased |
| Boeing 737-200 | 1 | 1996 | 1998 | |
| Xi'an MA60 | 4<ref><https://www.airlinereporter.com/2011/08/airline-livery-of-the-week-lao-airlines/</ref> | Template:Unknown | Template:Unknown | Transferred to Lao Skyway. |
Livery
Lao Airlines aircraft feature a frangipani insignia on their vertical stabilizers. The frangipani is the official national flower of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The words "Lao Airlines" are colored in blue.Template:Cn
Accidents and incidents
- On 1 September 1979, a Lao Aviation Antonov An-26 (registration RDPL-34037) force-landed in a corn field at Ban Mai, Thailand, due to fuel exhaustion after the pilot became disorientated in heavy rain; all 74 passengers and crew survived, but the aircraft was substantially damaged; the aircraft was repaired and flown back to Vientiane on 31 January 1980 where it was written off after crashing on landing.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref><ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
- On 22 April 1990, a Lao Aviation Antonov An-24RV (registration RDPL-34008) overshot the runway at Luang Namtha Airport after an aborted takeoff; the aircraft collided with a building, killing one; all three on the aircraft survived.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
- On 13 December 1993, a Lao Aviation Harbin Y-12-II (registration RDPL-34117) crashed on approach to Phonesavanh Airport after clipping trees in fog, killing all 18 on board.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
- On 25 May 1998, a Lao Aviation Yakovlev Yak-40 (registration RDPL-34001) crashed in the jungle in heavy rain near Long Tieng, Xiangkhouang Province, killing all 26 on board. The aircraft was carrying a Vietnamese military delegation from Vientiane to Xiangkhouang.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
- On 19 October 2000, Lao Aviation Flight 703, a Harbin Y-12-II (registration RDPL-34130), crashed into mountainous terrain in bad weather while on approach to Sam Neua Airport en route from Vientiane; eight of 17 on board died.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
- On 14 February 2002, Flight 702,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a Harbin Y-12-II (registration RDPL-34118) crashed on the runway while taking off from Sam Neua Airport due to a wind gust; all 15 on board survived, but the aircraft was written off; the engines were sent to Singapore to be rebuilt, the fuselage was cut up and sent to Vietnam for scrap metal.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
- On 16 October 2013, Flight 301, an ATR 72-600 (registration RDPL-34233) twin turboprop carrying 44 passengers and five crew, crashed into the Mekong River, at about 16:00 local time; all 49 on board died. The aircraft was flying from Vientiane to Pakse in Champasak Province in southern Laos, and was attempting to land in bad weather associated with Typhoon Nari.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>